Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-02-25
FARM and HOUSEHOLD.
POINTS ON POULTRY.

on the ground, but where this Is
not feasible put some clean, moist
soil in the bottom of the nests. A
good plan is to cut a sod of suit
able size, turn it over in your box
and pack so as to be of a concave
shape in the centre then cover the
earth with straw broken short. In
very cold weather mix a good pro.
portion Of feathers in the nest.lin-
ing-chicken feathers may be saved
for this purpose-and put spoon
ful of sulphur in when the hen is
set. The heat of the fowls causes
the fumes to penetrate every part
OF their bodies, thereby killing all
vermin and leaving the brood clean
and healthy. Never set eggs laid
near the close of the season when
the hens have been very prolific,
as they will produce weekly chickens
liable to disease and early death
In arranging nests remember that
the nature of fowls is to hide their
nests under a brush heap or some
out.of-the.way place, and humor
this habit by providing nests so
sheltered or hidden that they seem
to offer seclusion and quiet.
with snow on the ground, says
the Agriculturist, the world is a
wilderness to hens; they have no
inducement to lay, and will quickly
defer egg production, until spring
invites them to begin. The food
at such times should be made for
them and the house rendered as
comfortable as possible. The main
factor in egg production in winter
is warmth and dryness. 1t may
involve labor to remove enough
snow to afford them room, but it
must be done, or there will be no
eggs. The value of a good, warm
shed will be more appreciated by
the hens when snow Is on the
ground, for they prefert TO be in the
open air during the daytime, and
their health is greatly improved
thereby.
The season for setting hens is
coming. The question as to the
shape Of eggs for setting may we'll
be considered. Does it pay to pick
out eggs OF good shape, to avoid
pointed eggs and these with the
"bignesso all at one endi Breeders
differ in their opinions as to this
point. But the Rural Ne'o Yorker
hen man believes a hen In perfect
health always lays a wellshaped
eg; that a pointed or poorly shaped
egg is a sign that the hen is too
fat or otherwise out Of condition.
One experimenter says that he
spIinkles plaster frequently under
the roots, and scrapcs up the ma
nure once a week, diluting it with
about an equal bulk of dry muck.
Laying hens, says the Plough
man, must be closely looked after
at this season of the year If many
eggs are expected. While corn
may be- the principal food, they
should also have wheat, barley,
oats, shorts, boiled potatoes and
apples; also cabbage and chopped
hay, or rowen moistened with
warm water. Keep ground oyster
shells and bone constantly by them,
also gravel and pure water.
Fish has been highly recommend
ed as a wholesome and nutritious
diet for fowls and an excellent sub
stItute when other meat cannot be
obtained. Where the poultry man
| is situated near a fish market he
can obtain large quantities of re-
fuse and waste material of the fish
which cannot be sold, and if this
| Is fed to the fowls it will furnish
them with a cheap and nutritious
food. and If anything, better than
any other meat diet which can be
obtained.
1t is a mistake to suppose that
because ducks are fond. of water
| they will do we'll if kept in damp
quarters. They must have a dry
place in which to sleep, or they
will soon show signs of disease,
and in the end die. Ducks that
are well kept through the winter,
having a warm place at nights, will
begin to lay a month earlier that
those which sleep on the warm side
of q barnyard fence.
Turkeys are capable of rapid
digestion, and are always apparent
ly hungry. If allowed to forage
they can be kept at very small
expense, but when kept in confine-
ment they consume more than hens.
When yOupg aud growing, they